A lot has changed since we brought you news and photos of the Muppet Whatnot Workshop located in person at FAO Schwarz in New York City and (then) online. FAO Schwarz has changed hands and is now owned by Toys R Us. While the physical FAO stores in New York City and Las Vegas remain open and the Muppet Whatnot Workshop is alive and well in New York, the FAO website (as you may have noticed) is in a transitional state and ordering the Muppet Whatnots online is not possible at this time.

Through its twitter page, the Richard Petty Driving Experience is offering 43% off its Rookie driving experience at Walt Disney World on August 7 and 8th only. To cash in on the offer, call 1-800-BE-PETTY and mention offer code TWITTER and don’t forget to follow them on twitter for future updates and offers.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 7 — The Jonas Brothers, together with Verizon and LG Mobile Phones, are bringing fans a unique experience featuring new and innovative green screen technology on the U.S. portion of their “Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009.” Starting this week, all fans who create green screen videos at the Verizon/LG booth at Jonas Brothers shows, or those who create videos via their mobile phones or using their computer Web cams and register them at http://vcastlive.vzw.com/, will be entered for a chance to play the ultimate kickball game, live and in person, against Nick, Joe and Kevin.

“Playing live in front of our fans and interacting with them in new ways is really what it’s all about for us,” said Kevin Jonas. “Verizon and LG understand that and have come up with some really fun ways to add to the fan experience. I mean, a kickball contest? How cool is that?” Continue reading…

The Disneyland Hotel workers, Union Local 11, overwhelmingly voted against the Disneyland Resort’s latest contract proposal with 1,076 votes against and 86 for the proposal. The workers continue to work sans contract since February 2008.

Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (left), who provides the voice of Disney’s newest princess, Tiana, in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film “The Princess and the Frog,” poses with the new Princess Tiana character (right) as she will soon appear at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Thursday night’s event marked the very first public appearance of the Princess Tiana theme park character and took place during the 2009 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Annual Convention in Tampa, Fla. In addition, Rose performed a song from the film for convention-goers. “The Princess and the Frog” film will premiere in theaters nationwide Dec. 11, 2009. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

In 1969, this Disneyland Records Storyteller album was released to commemorate the opening of The Haunted Mansion. Intended as a simple promotional album, this recording has become a cherished childhood memory for many a Disneyland® Resort guest. The Story and Song From The Haunted Mansion includes original scenes and effects that never made it into the final attraction as it follows the story of two teenagers (voiced by Robie Lester and a young Ron Howard) who take refuge inside the eerie mansion during a mysterious rainstorm. First time on CD. A Halloween must have for collectors. Available exclusively to D23 members to own September 10, 2009.

Continuing our series into the galleries at the new Walt Disney Family Museum, we are pleased to present to you some of the artifacts that can be found in Gallery 4: The Move to Features: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Play, the new men’s fragrance by Givenchy, launches at Plume et Palette in the France Pavilion in Epcot®August 6 – 16, 2009

Press “Play” and provoke emotions.

In our high-tech nomadic era of multimedia and modernity, experiences can be shared anywhere, anytime. Let your imagination run wild, escape from daily routines and discover new sensations. Sights, sounds, feelings — and above all scents, with the olfactory sensation of Givenchy’s new masculine fragrance.

Play is extremely modern and yet totally timeless. It brings us back to the very essence of fragrance – a composition, a multi-sensory experience.

Dory is one of 10 sea turtles participating in Tour de Turtles: A Sea Turtle Migration Marathon hosted by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC). The program is designed to spotlight the challenges facing sea turtles, with each participant representing a “cause” or threat to sea turtle survival.